Entertainmentupdated 2h ago2 min read
MapThomas Markle Jnr Hands Phones to Philippine Police as Probe Targets Thomas Markle Sr
“adding that he would never meet Meghan and Harry's children Archie and Lilibet.”
“revealing she had known about troubling allegations involving her father for years.”
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Philippine police are investigating Thomas Markle Sr. over alleged possession of child sexual abuse material. Investigation followed a complaint by Thomas Markle Jr. about images on his devices.
Police probe and family rift
Thomas Markle Jnr handed four boxes containing mobile phones, computer equipment and other personal belongings to the Philippine National Police’s Women and Children Protection Centre, after investigators expected to complete digital forensics on alleged child abuse material linked to Thomas Markle Snr by the end of the week.
Meghan Markle’s estranged father was slammed by his son as a “disgusting monster” amid the Philippine police probe, after the family moved to Cebu City in the Philippines in January 2025.
Meghan’s estrangement deepened after a letter revealed accusations of abuse, with the letter stating, “I know you are an abuser. You will not see Archie and Lilibet again.”
Meghan said she was “deeply distressed” by the investigation into her father, and she said she first learned of allegations against him in 2018 when London’s Metropolitan Police shared a letter with her laying out related claims.
Forensics timeline and denials
Philippine Interior Minister Jonvic Remulla said a forensic investigation into Thomas Markle Sr would be completed in a week and provide a “definitive picture,” while he told The Guardian that “Right now all signs point to a possible sex offender of the grossest kind.” Remulla also said the Philippine National Police found a “trove of child pornography materials as well as a laptop” when it inspected Markle Sr’s former home in Cebu.
Thomas Markle Sr denied the allegations, telling the Daily Mail that “I have never had sex with anyone under 18.” Thomas Markle Sr also insisted that “If there is anything bad on there, it was put there by someone else,” as the case remained under investigation.
Met police letter and fallout
The Metropolitan Police Service of London confirmed that in January 2019 it received a letter containing serious accusations against Thomas Markle, and it said it was assessing whether the handling should be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Meghan Markle said the intention to remain distant from her father was driven by “the primary need to protect my children,” and she said she trusted that “the authorities will act in the same way.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said, “We are undertaking enquiries internally in an effort to confirm this,” as CBS News reported that the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was involved in passing on a letter in 2018.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle then “jet out of UK with their kids” after news broke that Thomas Sr was being investigated, with a friend telling Hello! Magazine that “She’s just really, really upset.”